At Sea

January 2 & 3

[Another two days at sea before our final stop in Los Angeles . . . ]

[On the first day, the Super and I just went up on the “roof” to chill . . . ]

[We pretty much had the whole place to ourselves?]

[How ’bout a quick 9 holes?  Here’s the outward . . . ]

[Here’s the inward . . . ]

[Or shuffleboard (curling without ice) . . . ]

[Top o’ the world . . . ]

[I can make this putt with my eyes closed!]

[A spy, to keep an eye on us.  Or is it just Tom Clancy . . . ]

[Did I already use, Top o’ the world?]

[Either a commentary on the state of our republic . . . ]

[Or a report that Twinkies could not be considered a diet food.]

[The next day . . . ]

[3:00 am.  Beat the rush to the laundry room.  Going home in two days . . . ]

[We began the day with a little whale watching . . . ]

[But they were a little far away . . . ]

[None-the-less, the crow’s watch was crowded . . . ]

[Looking around the corner and backwards . . . ]

[The big screen in the atrium was featuring our passage through the Panama Canal . . . ]

[There was a professional photographer on board who took these photos by drone . . . ]

[But then everybody rushed up front again on rumors of whale sightings . . . ]

[And back to the big screen . . . ]

[Can you see me?  Me neither.  But I was on the portside of the observation deck . . . ]

[The photos were terrific – and I was amazed how well I was able to photo them off the big screen . . . ]

[I think I was wearing a shirt . . . ]

[This one catches the lock opening . . . ]

[And the rest of the day was party time.  One third of the passengers would be leaving the ship in L.A., so it was a so long, it’s been good to know ya . . . ]

[This was the Viking Band . . . ]

[Heather charmed with her mezzo soprano voice . . . ]

[This guy was very good (name forgotten) as a singing piano player . . . ]

[Brigi on violin joined the band’s piano player . . . ]

[Elmer, another operatic voice, who I believe was on Heather’s staff . . . ]

[The captain was entertaining . . . and funny, as only Norwegians can be.]

[A toast from the ship’s “officer” class . . . ]

[And then the entire ship’s crew and staff came forward . . . ]

[The guests were represented on all three atrium floors . . . ]

[Yup, the kitchen staff – very important!]

[Guests were planted on the stairs leading up to the big screen.  That’s our friend Jack snapping a shot . . . ]

[A selfie as the stairs begin to clear . . . ]

[Say goodnight folks!]

[The Super gets one last shot . . . ]

[On departure, checking out the big screen . . . ]

[Then back to class.  Dr. Lori was giving a preview about Los Angeles, our next stop . . . ]

[Our last evening with the Viking Classical Trio . . . ]

[Our final thanks to Esza on flute, Brigi on violin, and Szylvia on cello.]

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